Murphy MP in London to lobby for exemption to proposed HGV levy

Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy MP will be in Westminster today
(Tuesday) to lobby politicians to support an Exemption for the North of Ireland
from the impending imposition by the British government of a levy on heavy
goods vehicles (HGV’s), which will be detrimental to our expanding cross border trade.

Speaking as he left for London, Conor Murphy said:

“Under new legislation being introduced from Westminster,
all HGVs crossing the border into the North from this April will be liable to
pay up £10 a day levy. As a representative from the border region I know the
potential damage this will cause. The imposition of this levy would have a
detrimental effect on the expanding cross border trade which currently
generates £2.3bn for this island and could dissuade investment in northern
operations by southern based parent companies. This could have a particularly
negative impact on the agri-food sector - our fastest growing sector.

"I will be meeting with British Secretary of State
Theresa Villiers and Shadow SoS Ivan Lewis, among others, and I will be making
clear that this unhelpful proposal from Westminster is another example of the
need for the transfer of fiscal powers to the north.

“Sinn Féin has been vocal in its opposition to this levy,
and our representatives north and south have been to the forefront in
highlighting the issue in every elected forum.

“The British government needs to amend the legislation to
exempt the north from this regressive charge and the Irish government must
ensure that they pressurise their British counterparts to stop this charge
which has the potential to severely affect the future viability of small and
medium businesses especially along the already struggling border region.”